Health Management - Leave & Disability - Applying for S & A benefits

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Applying For S & A benefits

S & A is a short term disability wage loss benefit for absences due to accident or illness. Employees and supervisors should
read the MEBAC agreement
for specific information pertaining to this benefit.

The process for applying for S & A benefits includes:

Once an employee knows they are going to be away longer than five consecutive business days, get an Attending Physician’s Statement as soon as possible. For IAFF Local 255 members, use Attending Physician's Statement FD1355 for absences longer than five consecutive working days or four consecutive working days if on a platoon schedule. The information a doctor includes on that form is used by Homewood
Health to adjudicate the application. The City’s Extended Health Services Benefits has some coverage for the cost of
getting an Attending Physician’s Statement completed. Employee Benefits Booklet

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The doctor should fax the completed Attending Physician’s Statement directly to Homewood Health 1-866-460-4645. The quicker
Homewood Health receives the form, the sooner it will be able to adjudicate the application and minimise any interruption in
pay for the employee.

As soon as Homewood Health gets an employee’s APS, a case file will be opened. A Homewood Health representative will be
assigned the claim to adjudicate.

The case manager will tell both the employee and his or her supervisor if the claim is approved.

If the claim has been approved, Homewood Health will continue to manage the case. If it has been denied, employees can
explore other options.

S & A denied or terminated

Appealing the decision

If an employee disagrees with a decision by Homewood Health to deny or terminate their S&A claim for medical or non-medical
reasons, they have 30 days from the date of notification that the claim is denied or terminated to appeal the decision.